The Alzheimer's Plan: Caring for a Family Member

By Dr.Gerald L. Kovacich and Dr. Vicki L. Anensen-McNealley

Do you know
• that Alzheimer’s is one of many forms of dementia and the predominant one?
• that there is currently not a cure for this disease?
• the difference between old-age symptoms and Alzheimer’s?
• the signs of Alzheimer’s and the tests available online that you can use to test for Alzheimer’s?
• what to do if your family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?
• where you can find help to learn more?
• the various types of facilities available for your family member?
• how to determine which facility is the best for your family member?
• the purpose of hospice and the significance of when they are called?
• what medical, legal, and financial actions you should take in supporting your family member?
The answers to these questions and more are in this book, and it includes a checklist of things to do with and for your family member.
All profits of this book will go to Alzheimer’s disease charities.
Both authors have years of hands-on personal experience in dealing with this deadly disease as well as other forms of dementia. Their first-hand knowledge is based on dealing with and caring for their family members with dementia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728318202

Book preview

THE ALZHEIMER’S PLAN

CARING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER

Dr. Gerald L. Kovacich

and

Dr. Vicki L. Anensen-McNealley

51181.png

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

Copyright © 2019 Dr. Gerald L. KovacichandDr. Vicki L. Anensen-McNealley . All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the authors.

Published by AuthorHouse  07/08/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-1822-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-1821-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-1820-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019908955

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover photo taken by Dr. Kovacich at sunset around San Juan Islands, WA, USA

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Buddhist Mantra

Quotation

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1-1    Alzheimer’s and Related Diseases Defined

Chapter 1-2    Dementia—Alzheimer’s History and Current Research

SECTION 2

PRE-DIAGNOSIS TO CONFIRMING THE

POSSIBILITY OF ALZHEIMER’S

Chapter 2-1    Before Diagnosis

Chapter 2-2    Diagnosis

Chapter 2-3    Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s — Now What Do You Do?

SECTION 3

FINDING THE BEST FACILITY

Chapter 3-1    Various Types of Facilities

Chapter 3-2    Finding the Best Facility for Your Loved One

Chapter 3-3    Applications, Admissions, Screenings and Orientations

Chapter 3-4    Facility Staff

Chapter 3-5    Other Residents

SECTION 4

FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END

Chapter 4-1    Legal Documents

Chapter 4-2    The Beginning of the End

Chapter 4-3    The Final Journey — Hospice

Chapter 4-4    When the End Comes

SECTION 5

LESSONS LEARNED AND THE FUTURE

Chapter 5-1    Summary of Alzheimer’s

Chapter 5-2    The Future of Dementia—Alzheimer’s Disease

Chapter 5-3    What You Can Do to Help

Final Quote

APPENDICES

Appendix 1    Alzheimer’s Checklist Plan

Appendix 2    Stories of Dementia—Alzheimer’s Sufferers

Appendix 3    Memorial to Helen M. Kovacich

Appendix 4    Thoughts of Grandma and Grandpa Filmore

Appendix 4    About the Authors

DEDICATION

From Dr. Kovacich:

This book is dedicated to my mother, Helen Marie Kinek-Kovacich: Thanks mom for teaching me about compassion, patience, love and charity.

To my family: I hope if I am stricken with this dreaded disease, you follow the advice given in this book.

This book is also dedicated to the professionals who work at the very special Houses of Compassion: assisted living, retirement homes, nursing facilities who have been one of the inspirations for this book and who dedicate their professional lives to making the last days of our elderly in these facilities as comfortable as possible while treating them with dignity and respect.

From Dr. Anensen-McNealley:

This book is dedicated to my late grandparents; without them in my life I would not have acquired the incredible patience it takes to love a person who has dementia nor would I have obtained the insight necessary to know what compassionate care really is.

It is also necessary to dedicate this book to the specialist care staff in the memory care units with whom we have been honored to know, work alongside, as well as the residents and their families. Caring for someone with a dementing illness can be rewarding and frustrating all in the turn of a moment. Thank you for opening your doors and hearts to this type of work, whether chosen or otherwise.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writers should always thank those who help make their books possible and in this case, the following people:

• Sandy Nichol, editor and longtime dear friend for doing another awesome editing job with a totally screwed up manuscript.

• Deanna E. Richards for giving me (Kovacich) the time, space and quiet surroundings that a writer needs.

• Kelly Stadler (CNA, Med. Tech.) for her friendship and kindness to my mom.

• Shannon DelCiello (LPN, RCD, Healthcare Consultant) also for her kindness to my mom and having to often explain to me (Kovacich) the do’s and don’ts of dealing with my mom.

• The staff at our publisher for bringing this book to fruition.

PREFACE

This book is based on the devastating effects dementia, and in particular, Alzheimer’s disease, has on a person and their family and friends. In most cases, when someone forgets a person’s name, a movie title, or any little mental error, we tend to attribute it to old age or a senior moment. It’s not until these senior moments become the norm before someone suggests Alzheimer’s as the cause.

Helen Kovacich (Dr. Kovacich’s mom) often said: Of all the things I miss, I miss my mind the most. Then she would laugh. We don’t know where she read or heard that saying, but ironically, after saying it over the decades, little did any of us know that it would come true.

When she was diagnosed with a form of dementia called Alzheimer’s, I conducted online research to find out more about it and looked for books that would tell me what my family and I might expect from a non-clinical, practical, hands-on point-of-view, like how to deal with a loved one on a day-to-day basis. I didn’t find any that met my needs on a personal level; there were no books explaining what to do if… However, I did find online sites discussing such things as signs and symptoms, which were helpful in a general way.

As I looked back over the years since she was diagnosed, my family and I found that we were learning the hard way by day-to-day experiences in dealing with her and seeing her continued decline. Also, in looking back we were able to match her actions with some online signs and symptoms. Well, hindsight is always 20-20 as they say.

In April 2013, almost two years after she had been medically diagnosed (although I saw signs increasing over the years that she was getting older, since she was over 80 at the time; medically diagnosed at about age 89), I decided to keep a diary of the interactions with my mother and how the disease was affecting her over time. I also encountered other residents living with dementing illnesses, both at the assisted-living facility where my mother lived, and other places I visited.

Then it occurred to me to write this book with Dr. Anensen-McNealley, whom I had met at my mom’s assisted living facility and who has had experience with dementia on a personal and professional level for decades. We decided such a book would be beneficial to others who may be dealing with a friend or relative who has now been diagnosed with some form of dementia and have no clue as to the initial signs or how to deal with it. It is very easy just to say, Well, she is just getting old. or Of course his memory is not as sharp as before. What do you expect at his age? The fact is dementia is a real issue that deserves careful attention and intervention. Practical resources, like this book, aid a family member to not only care for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease, but also wade through the care options and resources available.

Through it all, we have come to appreciate the tremendous work done by the professionals at those facilities who serve our elderly. The only facilities that seem to make the news are those where the residents are abused or ignored, giving all the other professional caregivers a black eye. It doesn’t make the news when you find ones that are doing a great job. I guess only bad news sells.

This book is also written to highlight the many unsung professionals who go through tremendous daily pressures, and heartaches as they try to keep a positive attitude day in and day out for years as they deal with the residents, many of whom have become friends, watching them decline in body and mind and, one-by-one, die.

They are truly angels of mercy as they care for the elderly and often grow to love them - by helping them bathe, clean up after their bowel movements - sometimes showing much more love than the elderly person’s own family.

Hopefully, after reading this book, you and your family will have a better understanding of what to expect from your loved one or friend who has been diagnosed with the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and, most importantly, what you can do about it.

As your loved one gets older, look for early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t excuse memory lapses and unusual behavior as just old age. Your loved one’s intent may not be to deceive anyone, but they just think of it as no big deal.

By going through this process with my mother, she made me a better human being. She inadvertently taught me to live my life focusing on being patient with others, showing compassion towards all sentient beings, and expressing charity to all. Ultimately she showed me to love all life forms.

The more her Alzheimer’s took hold of her life and our lives, the more we learned about showing compassion, patience, love and charity; first to her, then to others in the assisted living community where she resided for a several years, and ultimately to everyone.

Alzheimer’s and other dementias are daunting diseases that invoke fear in the young and old alike. With millions of people afflicted with the condition, and rates rising at an alarming rate, it seems time to question current best practice in caring for these individuals. While many families struggle to care for their loved ones at home, more find it too overwhelming to handle alone.

Long term care options are available, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential care settings and adult day care.

When you finished this book, we hope that you will:

• Have a better appreciation of dementia and especially, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s

• Learn more about Alzheimer’s through your own research and talking to professionals in the field including your doctor, hospice professionals and other caregivers

• Establish a What-If Plan in the event your loved one or maybe you show early signs of this affliction

• Look for signs of dementia in your loved ones;

• Coordinate with your doctor and/or loved one’s doctor and an attorney regarding what to do when diagnosed.

• Constantly show compassion, patience, love and charity to your loved one when stricken with this disease.

OM MANI PADME HUM¹

50253.png

QUOTATION

…seems to have reached the age where life stops giving us things, and starts to take them away².

SECTION 1

INTRODUCTION

This section is divided into two chapters:

Chapter 1-1: Dementia and Related Diseases Defined. This chapter discusses not only Alzheimer’s, but also other types of dementia.

Chapter 1-2: Dementia—Alzheimer’s History and Current Research. This chapter discusses the history of Dementia-Alzheimer’s and what is being done to find a cure for it.

CHAPTER 1-1

ALZHEIMER’S AND RELATED DISEASES DEFINED

Is it more painful to forget, or to be forgotten?³

— Joyce Rachelle

INTRODUCTION

This chapter discusses not only Alzheimer’s, but also other types of dementia.

The Disease

When one ponders a terminal disease, first thoughts go to cancer. This destructive overgrowth of cells robs a person of health as well as time. It is easy to spot a cancer patient – emaciated and pale, often